General Information

The Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre is an Australian Government funded program designed to assist carers in accessing respite services and gain information on services available in the community.

Who is a carer?
Carers are usually family members or friends who provide support to someone living at home who has a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, dementia or who is frail aged.
This support enables the person to continue living in his or her home. Carers may be parents, partners, brothers, sisters, friends or children.  Carers come from all walks of life, from different ethnic backgrounds and are all ages.
Carers may care for a few hours a week or all day every day.  Some carers are eligible for government benefits.  Other carers are employed or have a private income.
Caring for others can be complex and demanding and a carer may require assistance in a range of ways to ensure their own health and well-being. Each person’s experience of caring is likely to be different and may be enhanced by the provision of information, support, education, training or counselling.

Respite Services
Respite is a break from the caring role. Respite should be a positive, enjoyable experience for the person you care for as well as a rest for yourself.
Respite helps you rest and recover.  Respite helps you find the balance between caring for others, and caring for yourself.  Respite helps you care for longer and is essential to your well being.
Everyone's situation is different and so are their needs for respite.  At the CCRC we will endeavour to assist you to access respite that suits you and the person for whom you care.
You may use respite when you want a break, when you have to be hospitalised or when you would like help to meet the competing needs of your family.
Respite can be used occasionally, or on a regular basis.  It is available to assist when the unexpected happens or in an emergency.  Respite tends to work best when it is planned in advance and used regularly.  Respite is available in many forms.

Respite in your home
It can be someone coming to your home - a paid worker, friend, relative or neighbour - to help the person you care for to shower or to keep them company while you shop, visit a friend, or simply sleep.

Respite out of the home
Respite might involve someone taking the person you care for on a social outing, or supporting them to participate in a community activity.  Respite can involve the person spending a few hours at a day program, a few nights in a Respite House, a couple of weeks in an Aged Care Home, or going away on a camp or retreat with others.

Planned Respite
A respite support plan aims to have you take regular breaks to ensure that you do not get to the stage of feeling so worn out or overwhelmed you wonder how you manage.  Planned respite can mean having a worker from the Council in to help one afternoon a week, arrange for the person you care for to attend a regular session at a day centre or going away with other children on a camp at the end of each school term.  It could be a regular booking for residential respite for two weeks every few months or booking regular overnight stays at a community respite house.  It could be simply having a family member or friend take over care regularly for a few hours every weekend.  These breaks are a way to help you keep something 'in the tank'.

Emergency Respite
From time to time, things occur in our lives that we haven't planned for.  You may be ill, had an accident, or feel you cannot manage at the moment.
If you are temporarily unable to provide care, call Carelink on 1800 052 222. This phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We will talk with you about your immediate needs and make all the necessary arrangements for alternative care, either at home or in a respite facility.
We can also connect you with services to support you beyond the emergency.

For more information contact:

Respite Services
North and West Metropolitan Adelaide
Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre
77 Gibson St, Bowden SA 5007
PO Box 426, Hindmarsh SA 5007
Tel: (Freecall) 1800 052 222
Fax: (08) 8340 7810
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SA Government Carers Charter
In 2010 the Australian Government passed a bill which was designed to recognise the role of carers and increase recognition and awareness of the valuable contribution they make to society. This was the Carer Recognition Act of 2010. Uniting Care Wesley Bowden's Respite and Support Programs operate in accordance with this Act. We work to recognise and maintain the role of carers in South Australian society.

Download the SA Government Carers Charter here.